St. Playa for St. Paddy's Day
Playa Encantada condominium residents and friends came out in force, wearin' green, marchin' and pedalin' hard, and having way too much fun in celebration of St. Patrick's Day for the annual parade from Holmes Beach to Anna Maria - just a wee bit early on Sunday.

INSERT: Riding in a St. Patrick's Day parade - in a firetruck! - put the excitement level over the top for these two little guys, Seth Miller, 7, and brother Mason, 3, sons of Keith Miller, new firefighter at the West Manatee Fire and Rescue District.

Spring Avenue residents clarify wishes to ad hoc committee

The Anna Maria Ad Hoc Committee met once more prior to its March 15 joint meeting with the planning and zoning board to clarify changes in land-use zoning they plan to recommend for the city's Future Land Use Map.

Island-style music may get the Anna Maria bootBy Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter

Jimmy Buffett: Take your cheeseburger out of paradise!

If Anna Maria city commissioners are unable to resolve their current impasse over whether or not to permit outdoor entertainment at restaurants, Jimmy Buffett-style musicians and music may no longer be welcome in the city - at least outdoors.

That smoke Islanders have seen rising from north Perico Island the past week isn't a brush fire. It's the beginning the initial phase of land-clearing for the Arvida-St. Joe project that will lead to construction of its 686-unit condominium project.

Scott Pugh, 25, of Bradenton, was transported to Blake Medical Center Sunday after two of his friends reported finding him passed out next to his car, which was parked at Kingfish Boat Ramp on Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach.